Every Pakistani schoolchild knows Islamabad is the capital — but it wasn’t always. Karachi held the title first. This is the full story of why Pakistan moved its capital, who designed the new one, and how Islamabad took over in 1967.
Quick answer: The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad, since 14 August 1967. Karachi was the first capital (1947–late 1950s); the government moved the capital to a new purpose-built city designed by Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis at the Margalla foothills, with Rawalpindi as interim capital during construction.
Karachi: The First Capital (1947–c.1959)
At independence in 1947, Karachi — then Pakistan’s largest city and commercial hub — became the capital by default. The federal government operated from Karachi for over a decade, and the city’s Federal Capital Territory status reflected its role.
Why the Capital Moved
By the late 1950s, President Ayub Khan’s government listed the problems: Karachi was overcrowded and commercially dominated, its climate harsh, its coastal location strategically vulnerable — and a capital sharing a city with business interests invited conflicts of interest. The decision: build a purpose-built capital — neutral, central, secure, and planned from scratch. A commission weighed sites near Karachi and in the north before settling on the Pothohar Plateau at the foot of the Margalla Hills.
Building Islamabad (1960–1967)
In 1960, land was transferred from Rawalpindi District and Greek planner Constantinos Doxiadis — famous for his “Dynapolis” concept of a city growing in one direction — drew the master plan: the famous sector grid, the Margalla-facing orientation, room to expand southwest for a century. Construction ran through the 1960s with Rawalpindi as interim capital. On 14 August 1967, Islamabad formally became the capital of Pakistan. The full city portrait is in our Islamabad, Pakistan pillar.
The Capital Today
Islamabad now houses Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister’s and President’s residences, and the entire diplomatic corps — see inside the PM House. Karachi, meanwhile, became Pakistan’s undisputed commercial capital. The division of labour has held for nearly 60 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the capital of Pakistan before Islamabad?
Karachi, from independence in 1947 until the capital shifted north in the 1960s (Rawalpindi served as interim capital during construction).
When did Islamabad become the capital?
14 August 1967 — construction of the planned city had begun in 1960 under the Doxiadis master plan.
Who designed Islamabad?
Greek architect and planner Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis, commissioned in 1960. His sector-grid plan still shapes the city.
Why was Islamabad chosen as capital?
Central location, security (inland, away from the coast), pleasant climate at 666m elevation, and a blank slate for a purpose-built administrative city at the Margalla foothills.
